The Cherry
In "There is a Garden in Her Face" each stanza is finished with the line Till "Cherry Ripe" themselves do cry. Combined with the repeated reference to the character's cherry lips, this motif is central to the poems meaning. The narrator uses the image of the cherry as metaphor for the beauty and desirability of the depicted woman. However, her personal strength refuses any suitor until she is ready. This readiness is symbolized through the claim that the cherry is indeed ripe.
The Rose
In "My Life's Delight", the narrator is deprived of his love's soft touches. In the second stanza the symbol of the rose is used. It can be interpreted as both a symbol for his love's beauty and a thorny deterrent that stands between them. The emotional longing that this distance creates is like the prick of a rose. The narrator states that the rose's beauty is pure and eternal, further hinting at the insurmountable social or familial distance between him and his love.
Love life of youth
The poem "Now Winter Nights Enlarge" contains a reference to the frivolity of youth. The allegory can be interpreted to be a comment on the common affairs among noble folk. The narrator has no negative opinions about these, he just states that what is called love is often just lust.
Long nights
The main motif of the poem "Now Winter Nights Enlarge" is the image of a cold dark night. When winter approaches, nights get longer and humans tend to feel more alone. The narrator offers the cure for this loneliness, namely love. He describes that love is different for everyone, but also cautions that while it is enjoyable and helps you through the night, it is often just a game.
The Bow
In the poem "There is a Garden in Her Face", the second symbol used is the bow. The author uses this metaphor to compare the protagonist's eye brows to a drawn bow. This stern image amplifies the strength of the character, giving her agency over her own body. This is an uncommonly strong and positive depiction of a woman's own agency for this time.
